Chapter Text
The weather was cold, Christmas was close.
They were sheltered in a muggle village near the sea, they had been sent to observe a wizard who was suspected of working for the order of the "phoenix".
It was a different place from where they usually send them on missions. It was a quiet place. In which the waves could be heard in the background, the only thing that interrupted that tranquility was the sound of when the waves collided with the rocks on the shore. Oh, and the muggle device that made music with insect antennas; that Regg had turned on a while ago.
In a place like this it's easy to get lost in the sound of the sea, you can let your mind wander, usually that would be good.
Except in the middle of a war, a silent war, where the ministry is not even sure if it is correct to call it a war or some disagreement of interests and ideals. Unfortunately for the ministry, the lifeless bodies found in the streets or hanging from bridges mean other things.
When I was at Hogwarts everything was different, it was easier to ignore the weight of the approaching war. One of the clear differences was that their day was not filled with the image of corpses and cries for mercy, the only thing that reminded them of what was happening outside the castle walls were some of their house who already believed that Voldemort knew of their existence and longed to be united by the promise that the Dark Lord represented.
Part of the last time at Hogwarts was different. Regulus told them that in his last year he was not going to return because he had more important duties.
So Barty decided to do the same thing, just for different reasons. That's how his small, small group of friends broke up.
Evan was always a case.
It was a different topic than he didn't like to think about.
Especially now. Now that he is gone.
Trying to get out of his thoughts, he turned to look at Regulus.
He was lying next to him on an old armchair with sleepy eyes and calm breathing. It's been a long time since Barty have spent so much time with Regulus.
Saying "a long time" is a bit of an exaggeration, but compared to a week ago, well, it's different. Regg kept disappearing for reasons he didn't even tell Barty anymore.
Barty, fed up again with his thoughts, rotate a strange button on the device to change the song. Then it started changing songs every few seconds until...
Until he heard that voice. It was a majestic and melancholic voice, he had only heard it once, he had stopped listening to it a while ago. I missed it.
He returned to where he was sitting. Regulus had woken up and seemed to think the same as him. No one dared to say anything until they couldn't stand it anymore.
"It's him" Bart said
“No, Barty,” Regulus said with compassion in his eyes "He's gone."
"No, Regulus," Barty said insistently, "it's him, I know."